Written by Mike Carter, Hull KR Shirts.
The way people look forward to Christmas, that’s how I look forward to kit reveals. It’s a time of the year that holds anticipation and excitement for what the following season is going to look like, at least sartorially anyway. Marketing teams at clubs have turned what once was a largely unremarked on happenstance into a highly anticipated event with countdown clocks, teases of information, kit snippets for supporters that build hype and anticipation ahead of the reveal.
Hull KR kicked off the marketing of the 2023 kit on Sunday 25th September at 8:00 pm, with a 14-second video of five Robin Icon ticker tapes rolling across the screen in various directions, with audio provided courtesy of the Sky Sports and Premier Sports commentary teams. The clip was closed by the lead singer of The Reytons, Jonny, blasting out “give it up for the Robins” – taken from their performance ahead of the Good Friday derby earlier this year.
The 2023 home range was made available for pre-order, a move that has been successful in the past. The situation is win/win for the club as it secures early sales from those eager to get their hands on new merchandise and those who buy the home shirt year on year, with each person buying early becoming a roving billboard for the new gear. Anyone who wishes to wait can do so, with no problems for anyone involved. It’s an option for someone to take advantage of if they want to, and that’s it. The communication that accompanied the pre-order is that the kit will be revealed on the 30th of September, “with dispatch of product expected from 7th October”. The wording here is key. It buys the club some time should any unforeseen delays occur, which in a time of economic uncertainty is possible. Pre-orders will also come with a 2023 alternative kit memento. Sweet!
As the week progressed, fans received another teaser via the club’s social media channels on Wednesday 28th September. This brought us our first look at the shirt. We could see the upper back of the shirt, which features a Robin Icon. This was a regular feature on all three of the 2022 kit options and will be a stalwart feature moving forward. It has, however, had a slight change of location – more on that soon! Also visible is a white collar, which appears to be quite deep, and even though it is out of focus, you can just make out what appears to be white sleeves.
That wasn’t to be the last of the teases, though, as principal partner Connexin also got on board, revealing their branding space on the 2023 home kit – the same as they did in 2022. The post they made and the image they used even sparked some questions over whether it was the same shirt, with only the angle of the photograph changing. It had already been highlighted by the Club that the shirt would be predominantly red on the 2023 home kit website update, so this image wouldn’t have shocked many.
The final tease came on the morning of the reveal, with use of the term ‘Kitmas’ and notification that noon was when the full kit would be revealed. A short, out-of-focus video was included that showed a kit consisting of white socks, white shorts, and a red bodied, with white arms shirt. This video revealed the full kit look, with Rovers using a contrasting colour for the shirt and short/sock option for the first time since 2019.
12:00 pm arrived and with it came Hull KR’s 2023 home kit. Modelled by first-team players Elliot Minchella, Matty Storton, Frankie Halton and Connor Barley, along with LDSL player Josh Clark and 2022 Women’s Player of the Year Abbie Kudla.
(Credit: Hull KR)
As we’d worked out from the clues, the club has increased the amount of white compared to the home kits that were used in 2021 and 2022. My first impression being that it reminded me of the 2014 home kit. The shirt was used with red shorts in 2014, but I feel the comparison still stands. I have seen many “It looks like *insert another team here*” comments, which are understandable, as it is a look that has been used by different teams across different sports for many years. But it isn’t a trademarked look or exclusive to the point where it can’t be reimagined by other teams. The two primary colours are the colours most would associate with Hull KR, and the use of more white should at least appease those who didn’t like the all-red looks of 2021 and 2022.
The shirt also reminds me a little bit of the tee-shirt from the ‘1971 Range’ which was launched in November 2020. To me, the tee had a football shirt feel back then, and this one has similar vibes. Equally, I could see this being a reason why someone would like the shirt, and also a reason some may not like it. I wonder if this was a test release for this shirt? It probably wasn’t, but it did make me wonder.
It isn’t a white shirt with a red band, and that isn’t in the pipeline for an immediate return, unfortunately. However, I am sure that one day it will, and the world (well, East Hull) will rejoice. It should also sell out in record time, but we will see on that one.
I felt that needed addressing and now that it is out of the way, let’s get stuck into, what I feel overall is a very smart-looking kit! Over the past two years, I’ve firmly found myself enjoying watching this team play in all red, so the switch could take some getting used to.
(Credit: Hull KR)
We’re off to a solid start with the introduction of the 2023 home kit, as I feel it’s a very well-executed red and white kit. Connexin return for a second season; this is the first time a main sponsor has featured on consecutive home shirts since Clearsky in 2015. The kit is once again manufactured by Oxen, in what is our 7th home offering under the Elite Pro Sports banner.
(Credit: Hull KR)
The collar has an 80s-style V-neck that we’ve seen a few times in the past. It is very similar to that used in 2019 on the away shirt and 2020 on the home shirt. Having the white neckline works really well against the red body of the shirt, adding to the contrasting look the kit is expressing.
Sponsor integration is something that Hull KR have been very good at over recent years. Their ability to sell their ideas to a partner is commendable. Every sponsor that the club secures has a say on how it appears on a shirt and to get them all to commit to either red or white is brilliant. Connexin’s branding fits nicely on the shirt, and as someone pointed out to me, it could be considered a quasi-white band through the middle as it does break up the main red body of the shirt. I thought this was a good analysis and deserved a mention in this review. IRS is once again situated above the crest and on the right side as wearing chest sponsor – a position we’ve seen it in many times before. There is one sponsor that stands out more than the rest, though, and that’s the Aspire Academy logo on the right side of the chest as wearing. Sponsors in this position are often embroidered into the shirt, and the same applies here. This could be why it stands out more than the other sponsors, as well as it being a bit blocky. It is a very minor detail, but it does tip the symmetry of the shirt.
2023 Hull KR Home Shirt – Front
(Credit: Hull KR)
If you recall the first teaser for the 2023 home kit, you’ll remember the red Robin Icon ticker tapes. Well, those were intentional, as you’ll notice the bands on both the front and back of each sleeve. When wearing the shirt, if you hold your arms out wide, the taping branding will appear in all its glory. What an excellent touch this is, though. The shirt itself is very clean and traditional in terms of its design, so to be brave and add in this finishing touch was a great call. I love it! The taping also carries down onto the side of the shorts for excellent continuity.
(Credit: Hull KR)
For the first time since 2011, Hull KR have released a replica home shirt that has the Super League competition patch dye-sublimated into the shirt. This is a true sign of progress, and a decision that could have been made ahead of 2022, too, as it shows the Club was in a position of having no fear of relegation. This is the reason why it hasn’t been featured for so long. The dye-sublimated logo will feature only on adult shirts.
(Credit: Hull KR)
There is a new sleeve sponsor in the form of Richardson’s Food and Safety Consulting (RSF). On the opposite sleeve, sponsorship from Easy Buy has continued once more, and they’ve allowed for a radical change to their naturally blue logo. On the 2023 home shirt, their branding features in red against the white sleeve, and the company absolutely loves it!
As we move to the back of the shirt once again, we have excellent sponsor integration. Harrison Solway and Hirebase’s branding both look great. They fit seamlessly into the shirt, standing out well enough without overpowering the design. Above the Harrison Solway logo, you will notice the Robin Icon. This has been lowered from the collar to the highest point on the back of the main body of the shirt. Doing this has allowed for it to be a bit larger, and I feel it is a better place for the icon than its previous collar spot in 2022.
(Credit: Hull KR)
I mentioned earlier that the shirt will be worn with white shorts and socks. We’ve been used to seeing Hull KR play at home in shorts and socks that match the shirt, so it’s nice to see us flip back to the contrasting look for 2023. The shorts have the same Robin Icon detailing that can be found on the sleeve down the side of the shorts, as well as sponsorship from ESM, Steve Leaming Plant, and Novum Personnel, all appearing in red. Oxen’s branding features on the back of the shorts, with the Hull KR crest in its rightful place on the front ride side as wearing. The socks appear to be all white, but we haven’t seen a good look at those yet. One thing I did notice, though, was that the Robin Icon on the turnover has been replaced by the Oxen branding. All three 2022 kits carried the Robin Icon on the turnover, but I would assume its increased usage over the 2023 home kit made it an easy decision to flip to Oxen on this occasion.
It was announced at the Club’s End of Season Awards Night that academy products who go on to make a first-team appearance will have a Golden Robin heat applied to their home shirts, as a sign of progress and reward for their work in the Club’s system. I have had it confirmed that this will apply to current first-team players who have played for the Club’s Academy too. Excellent!
(Credit: Hull KR)
Also available for the first time is a 2023 home shirt hoody. The hoody carries the main body of design elements used for the shirt but has been cleaned up of all the sponsors, just carrying Connexin as a sponsor on the front of the hoody. The Robin Icon detailing continues all the way down the sleeves to the cuffs, and in truth, looks great. Hull KR tried a few different options in 2022, and it’s good to see they’ve come back with another fresh idea here.
(Credit: Hull KR)
That is me done throwing everything I have on the 2023 Hull KR home kit at you. I would love to hear what you think about the kit, including your initial reaction. As previously mentioned in my past reviews, I always feel like mine, and other people’s opinions, change when they see the lads run out at Craven Park in a new kit for the first time.
I am still expecting Hull KR to stick with three kits for the 2023 season. It is well known that other clubs have pushed to four, including some of the clubs also under the Elite Pro Sports banner. You will have noticed that in 2022 the Boilermakers kit was announced as an alternative kit, as opposed to a third kit. It appears that the next kit to be revealed will be also called an alternative kit. The clue is on the 2023 home shirt link on Shop Hull KR.
The 2023 home kit range can be purchased by clicking here.
Hull KR Shirts 